Sermons upon the Book of Job

But now if a man consider himself, he can no sooner say, my father, but he must by and by say also, my mother. So then, seeing that mankind is continued by means §60of the woman: it becometh us too think that we be bound one of us too another. Furthermore, too what purpose is it, that the woman was created? Verily that she should be a help too man: and it behoveth her also too be subject to him. But yet for all that, she is mans companion, as the Scripture termeth her. For it is said, that among all the things that God created, there was not any helper that could be meet for Adam. And why so? because he was not of nature like unto beasts, but was of a more excellent creation. Now if women be mens companions, there is no cause of disdain, that men should trample them under their feet, or shake them off, or hold scorn of them: but they must be knit together with the said mutual bond, saying: Very well, God created us and fashioned us: and he maintaineth us by men and women: and that is done too the end we should live together in one common accord, knowing that there is a bond of copartnership which God hath consecrated as inviolable betwixt us. Thus we see what we have too remember that we may behave our selves uprightly. And now let us come too that which is rehearsed here. It is said that Job wished that the day of his birth were overwhelmed with darkness, that it were brunt up with the beat of the day, and with storms and tempests, that it were stricken out of the course of the year, that it might have no stars, and that it might not come into the Calendar, too be under the government of the Moon. It seemeth here, that he would pervert the whole order of nature. But hereby we see how our passions boil within us. True it is, that if men could mourn without excess in their afflictions, it were not too be condemned. Why so? For our Lord Jesus Christ was not affectionless: yea, we see that when he endured any grief, he felt it, he sighed at it, and he was sad for it: and yet for all that he was the unspotted Lamb of God, insomuch that there was nothing in him that could be blamed. How is it then that he had heaviness in him? Save only that (as I have said already) his sorrowing was moderated as was convenient, and was not wicked nor sinful of it self.

But nowe if a man consider himselfe, hee can no sooner say, my father, but hee must by and by say also, my mother. So then, seeing that mankinde is continued by meanes §60of the woman: it becommeth vs too thinke that wee bee bounde one of vs too another. Furthermore, too what purpose is it, that the woman was created? Verily that shee shoulde bee a helpe too man: and it behoueth hir also too bee subiect to him. But yet for all that, shee is mannes companion, as the Scripture termeth hir. For it is sayde, that among all the thinges that God created, there was not anye helper that coulde bee meete for Adam. And why so? bycause hee was not of nature like vntoo beastes, but was of a more excellent creation. Nowe if women bee mennes companions, there is no cause of disdeyne, that men shoulde trample them vnder theyr feete, or shake them off, or holde scorne of them: but they must bee knitte togither with the sayd mutuall bond, saying: Very well, God created vs and fashioned vs: and hee mainteyneth vs by menne and women: and that is done too the ende wee shoulde liue togither in one common accorde, knowing that there is a bonde of copartnershippe whiche God hathe consecrated as inuiolable betwixt vs. Thus wee see what wee haue too remember that wee may behaue our selues vprightly. And nowe let vs come too that whiche is rehearsed heere. It is sayde that Iob wyshed that the daye of his byrthe were ouerwhelmed with darkenesse, that it were brunt vppe wyth the beate of the daye, and with stormes and tempectes, that it were stryken oute of the course of the yeare, that it mighte haue no starres, and that it might not come intoo the Kalender, too bee vnder the gouernment of the Moone. It seemeth heere, that he woulde peruert the whole order of nature. But hereby wee see howe oure passions boyle wythin vs. True it is, that if men coulde mourne without excesse in their afflictions, it were not too be condemned. VVhy so? For our Lorde Iesus Christ was not affectionlesse: yea, wee see that when hee endured any greefe, hee felt it, hee sighed at it, and he was sadde for it: and yet for all that he was the vnspotted Lambe of God, insomuche that there was nothing in him that coulde be blamed. How is it then that hee had heauinesse in him? Saue onely that (as I haue sayde alreadie) his sorrowing was moderated as was conuenient, and was not wicked nor sinfull of it selfe.